Snow monkeys of Japan

Japanese Macaques

A popular tourist draw for Nagano, Japan, are the snow monkeys, or Japanese macaques, that are drawn to the area - particularly during inclement weather - by the local hot springs.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Shutterbugs

While his day job takes Mark Hemmings around the world shooting commercials, for the past decade he has been leading photography tours. One of the highlights of his Japan itinerary is capturing snow monkeys at Nagano.

Credit: CBS News

Japanese Macaques

The snow, said Hemmings, makes the perfect backdrop for a picture.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

"Right now we have snow falling, we have overcast skies, and that produces a nice, soft appearance for the face, the monkey face," Hemmings said. "And plus, because these are snow monkeys, we want snow!"

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

The area is called jigokudani, or "Hell Valley," because of the sulfurous, steaming hot springs bubbling underground, which draw the snow monkeys from the mountains of Nagano seeking warmth.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

The nearby town is known for its onsen, or hot baths, which evidently were drawing more than just the tourists. So, to avoid scaring off those who actually paid to use them, a "monkeys-only" pool was created.

Throw in a little barley to sweeten the deal and voila! -- you get bathing monkeys.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Mark Hemmings

"I'm not so much a wildlife photographer per se, but I like photographing monkeys because they have such human characteristics," said Mark Hemmings.

Credit: CBS News

Japanese Macaques

"I think you could tell a story just by the expression on this monkey's face," he told CBS News' Seth Doane.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Teachers Robin and Matt Luther from Milwaukee, who first saw snow monkeys in National Geographic, were on Hemmings' photo tour. "They have it made; they've got the life," Matt said. "I'm kind of jealous, I think, more than anything!"

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Basking snow monkeys.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Hemmings' photographs are almost like human portraiture. "The human face tells so much with just the smallest amount of change with the muscle structure," he said. "And you can see that in these monkeys as well."

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

The Japanese macaque is the most northern of monkey species.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Scientists say macaques are particularly intelligent, being able to adapt new behaviors and pass them down to later generations, so it is not surprising that they would adapt to the hot springs of Nagano with such ease.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Snow monkeys of Nagano.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Japanese macaques are listed as a threatened species, their habitat endangered by agriculture and the encroachment of man.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

Macaque portrait.

Credit: Mark Hemmings

Japanese Macaques

A Japanese macaque enjoys the 109° F waters of the Nagano hot springs.